Thu, 07/21/2016 - 15:10

Whitney possible next start for Bradester

Barbara D. Livingston
Bradester trains at Saratoga on Thursday. He is being considered for the Whitney on Aug. 6 or the Monmouth Cup on July 31.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Eddie Kenneally said that Bradester, the winner of the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap last month at Churchill Downs, is under consideration for the Grade 1, $1.25 million Whitney Stakes here on Aug. 6.

“We’re looking at it for sure,” Kenneally said. “He finally came through and won a Grade 1 stakes, came out of it really good.”

Kenneally said that Bradester is also being considered for the Grade 2, $200,000 Monmouth Cup on July 31. Bradester won that race last year.

Thu, 07/21/2016 - 15:06

My Man Sam prepping for Travers

Barbara D. Livingston
My Man Sam gets used to the surface at Churchill Downs during a leisurely workout under Irad Ortiz Jr. before dawn Sunday.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – My Man Sam, the Blue Grass Stakes runner-up, will make his first start since his 11th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby in a first-level allowance Saturday at Saratoga.

The 1 1/8-mile race drew a field of six, including Tale of Verve, the runner-up to American Pharoah in last year’s Preakness.

Trainer Chad Brown said he is hoping to use this race for My Man Sam as a stepping-stone to the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers on Aug. 27.

Thu, 07/21/2016 - 15:06

Weep No More sticking with Coaching Club American Oaks

Barbara D. Livingston
Weep No More, seventh in the Kentucky Oaks, will be pointed to the Alabama at Saratoga.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Rusty Arnold said the decision to run Weep No More in Sunday’s Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga was made long before it was announced that the undefeated champion Songbird would be coming to the race as well.

Arnold said owners Len and Sandy Bromagen want to run Weep No More in the Grade 1 Alabama, a 1 1/4-mile race here Aug. 20, and believe the CCA Oaks is the best place to prep.

“We’re looking to the Alabama – that’s where we’re wanting to run,” Arnold said Friday. “I do think we have a true mile-and-a-quarter horse.”

Thu, 07/21/2016 - 13:56

California Chrome figures to attract a crowd

Barbara D. Livingston
California Chrome (above) and Beholder are expected to meet in the Pacific Classic on Aug. 20.

DEL MAR, Calif. – The presence of the popular California Chrome in the $200,000 San Diego Handicap on Saturday is expected to boost attendance at Del Mar, but track officials are reluctant to predict the size of the crowd.

Craig Dado, Del Mar’s chief marketing officer, said California Chrome’s appearance and promotions that include food-truck and craft-beer festivals could produce an audience in excess of 25,000.

“Chrome is a unique horse,” Dado said. “He almost has a cult following.”

Thu, 07/21/2016 - 13:50

Rancho Bernardo target for Pretty N Cool, Enchanting Lady

Benoit & Associates
Pretty N Cool, ridden by Mike Smith, wins the CERF Stakes by 1 1/2 lengths Wednesday.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Pretty N Cool and Enchanting Lady gave trainer Bob Baffert a sweep of the exacta in Wednesday’s $77,600 California Equine Retirement Foundation Stakes at Del Mar. The same two fillies will give Baffert a strong team for the $100,000 Rancho Bernardo Handicap for fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs on Aug. 17.

The Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Handicap is the top race for female sprinters at the summer meeting.

:: DEL MAR: Buy pps, watch Saturday's card live

Thu, 07/21/2016 - 13:40

Calculator makes turf debut

Shigeki Kikkawa
Based in Southern California, Calculator is taking a cross-country journey for the Carter.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Calculator won a graded stakes on dirt in early 2015 as a 3-year-old and has two seconds and a third in graded sprints this year. On Saturday, Calculator’s career will go in a different direction when he starts for the first time on turf.

There are indications that Calculator will run well in a strong field in Saturday’s fifth race, a one-mile optional claimer. He worked a half-mile in 51.60 seconds on turf last Sunday.

Thu, 07/21/2016 - 13:06

Racing's ladies' man, Smith enjoying ride with Songbird

Benoit & Associates
Mike Smith has ridden Songbird in all eight of her wins.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Mike Smith has ridden some of the best female horses of all time – four, in fact, who are in the Hall of Fame, including Zenyatta, whose induction takes place in less than three weeks.

Smith, a Hall of Famer himself and still going strong at age 50, has found another fabulous filly in Songbird, who is undefeated in eight career starts. She will put that streak on the line Sunday in the Grade 1, $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga, where she will meet four rivals, including Grade 1 winners Carina Mia and Weep No More.

Wed, 07/20/2016 - 17:32

Valenzuela denied jockey’s license by California Horse Racing Board

Barbara D. Livingston
Patrick Valenzuela can exercise horses, but is not eligible to ride in a race through Oct. 31, according to the California Horse Racing Board.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Jockey Patrick Valenzuela has been denied a jockey’s license by the California Horse Racing Board, ending a months-long quest to resume his troubled career on the West Coast.

Wednesday, the racing board announced that it had adopted the recommendation of hearing officer Patrick Kane who proposed Valenzuela be denied a license for repeated violations for substance-abuse issues in his career. Kane recommended that Valenzuela reapply for a license in a year and that he undergo drug and alcohol testing on a weekly basis in the interim.

Wed, 07/20/2016 - 15:40

Husband: Snowden hit hard by loss of colt

Dennis Snowden confirmed on Wednesday that his wife, trainer Monique Snowden, was found dead after apparently committing suicide Sunday evening. Her body was discovered underneath a bridge crossing the Green River in Enumclaw, Wash.

“The medical examiner hasn’t completed his investigation, but they showed me a piece of jewelry that belonged to her,” he said.

Monique Snowden was distraught after a horse she trained, The Chilli Man, broke down in the $50,000 Emerald Express on Sunday and had to be euthanized.

Wed, 07/20/2016 - 15:10

Celestine, Ironicus to miss stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
Celestine, ridden by Junior Alvarado, wins the Just a Game Stakes by 3 3/4 lengths Saturday.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Celestine, the dominant winner of the Grade 1 Just a Game at Belmont on June 11, was not among the 10 fillies and mares entered Wednesday for Saturday’s Grade 1 Diana Stakes at Saratoga.

“She had a foot that was bothering her a little bit,” said trainer Bill Mott. “We just can’t make it. She went a week there where she wasn’t doing any good. We weren’t doing well enough to run.”

Mott was noncommittal as to what might be next for Celestine. One possible spot is the Grade 2, $400,000 Ballston Spa here on Aug. 27.